EP0571890B1 - Cover for closing a roof opening - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a plate-shaped cover element for optionally closing or at least partially exposing a roof opening in a motor vehicle roof.

Sunroofs and lifting roofs in motor vehicles are exposed to high thermal loads and changing climatic influences. In order to ensure that the sunroof or sunroof is watertight even over an extremely large temperature range of around - 30 ° C to 100 ° C and to be able to maintain tightness against the ingress of rainwater or snow under these conditions, very high demands are placed on the rigidity and resistance to temperature changes the roof cover elements. Furthermore, low manufacturing tolerances and low thermal expansion of the cover elements are required in order to keep the sealing effort between the roof opening and the cover element within reasonable limits.

Sliding and lifting roof covers are known from stamped or folded sheet metal parts, from glass, sandwich elements and plastic (DE-A-3 202 646 and DE-U-1 811 690).

The production of roof cover elements from sheet metal and glass can only be realized in a complex production system.

When using plastic, difficulties arise with regard to the rigidity and paintability of the cover elements. Plastics also have a relatively high coefficient of thermal expansion, which in turn leads to increased sealing effort in the area between the sliding or lifting roof cover and the roof opening.

Although sandwich elements have the stiffness required for a sliding or sunroof cover, they have so far only been very complex to manufacture.

All of the above-mentioned materials have relatively high manufacturing tolerances in manufacturing, which must be compensated for by a correspondingly high amount of sealing.

The invention specified in claim 1 has for its object to provide a cover element of the type mentioned above, which has a high rigidity with a low overall height and low weight and which can be realized with low manufacturing costs in narrow manufacturing tolerances.

This object is achieved in a cover element of the generic type in that the cover element consists essentially of an extruded profile part made of a light metal or a light metal alloy.

Extruded aluminum profiles can be delivered inexpensively by the meter and do not need to be reworked. Extruded profile parts allow adaptation to different vehicle models in the simplest way, since only the section length of the extruded profile part has to be changed for different widths or lengths of the roof opening. Al and Mg alloys are particularly suitable as the material for the extrusion process.

Further embodiments of the invention result from the subclaims.

The cut edges of the extruded profile part are preferably provided with sealing and / or guide elements which enable the cover element to be guided in the roof opening. The sealing and / or guide elements cover the cut sides of the extruded profile part as end pieces. For this purpose, the sealing and / or guide elements preferably have a profile which is at least partially complementary to the extruded profile, as a result of which they can be simply plugged or fitted onto the extruded profile part. The sealing and / or guide elements can then be fixed to the extruded profile part by means of a positive or non-positive connection.

Since the sealing and / or guiding elements have the corner regions of the cover elements, changes in the shape of the roof opening can be implemented more easily from a design point of view, in particular if, in a further embodiment of the invention, the sealing and / or guiding element is designed as an injection-molded or die-cast part is that can be produced in modified shapes, for example with larger radii of curvature in the corner areas, without great manufacturing outlay.

A rain gutter can be integrally formed on the extruded profile part.

The extruded profiles are preferably directed transversely to the direction of travel, although in principle an alignment of the profiles along the direction of travel is also possible.

The extruded profile part can be used for a one-piece sunroof cover. However, it can preferably also be used for lamellar cover elements of a louvre sunroof, as is e.g. in the unpublished DE-A-4 123 229, which does not belong to the prior art according to Art. 54 EPC. The lamellar cover elements abut one another at their longitudinal edges in the closed position of the sunroof and are brought into a pivoted position in the open position on one side of the sunroof opening by the overlay of a translational movement with a pivoting movement, in which the lamellar cover elements at least partially overlap.

The extruded profile part for the lamellar cover elements preferably has an undercut on its first longitudinal or abutting edge for receiving a seal, while a contact surface is formed on the second abutting edge facing away from it for tight contact with the seal of an adjacent cover element. On the one hand, this creates a defined receptacle for the seal between the lamellar cover elements and, on the other hand, it ensures that the lamella sliding roof closes absolutely tightly in the closed position.

The lamellar cover elements are attached to their sealing and / or guiding elements in the sunroof opening. The guidance of the cover elements during the translational movement and pivoting movement from the closed position to the open position of the sunroof and vice versa is carried out in a known manner, e.g. through a scenery guide, as e.g. in the above-mentioned DE-A-4 123 229.

The cover elements can have grooves for fastening a film or fabric layer both on their inside facing the vehicle interior and on their outside. The application of a film or fabric layer spanning all the lamellar cover elements prevents the ingress of rainwater between the lamellar cover elements. It is important to ensure that the grooves in the cover elements are removed from their abutting edges so that the film or fabric layer can lift and fold from the pivoted cover elements in the open position of the sunroof.

In the same way, a roof lining can be stretched on the inside of the cover elements. This can be fastened separately to each individual lamellar cover element in the form of individual headlining elements or, like the fabric or film layer located on the outside, span the entire surface of the sunroof.

The sealing or guide elements can have a side screen. This can be integrally formed on the sealing or guide elements or subsequently.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische teilgeschnittene Ansicht eines vorderen Eckbereichs eines Schiebe- oder Hebedachdeckels,

Fig. 2

eine Ansicht ähnlich Fig. 1 eines Schiebe- oder Hebedachdeckels mit einer durch ein Zusatzteil befestigten Umlaufdichtung,

Fig. 3

eine Ansicht ähnlich Fig. 1 eines Schiebe- oder Hebedachdeckels mit einem die Schnittkante eines Strangpreßprofils abdeckenden Endstück,

Fig. 4

den Schnitt entlang der Linie IV-IV der Fig. 3,

Fig. 5

den Schnitt entlang der Linie V-V der Fig. 3,

Fig. 6

eine Ansicht ähnlich Fig. 1 mit einem Endstück zur Abdeckung der Schnittkante des Strangpreßprofils und einer an dem Endstück angeformten Sichtblende,

Fig. 7

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines lamellenförmigen Schiebedachdeckels mit Endstück für ein Lamellenschiebedach,

Fig. 8

einen Schnitt durch ein Lamellenschiebedach mit einer äußeren Schiebedachverkleidung in Schließstellung des Schiebedachdeckels,

Fig. 9

eine Ansicht gemäß Fig. 8 in Öffnungsstellung des Schiebedachdeckels,

Fig. 10

einen Schnitt durch zwei Deckelelemente eines Lamellenschiebedachs mit angeformtem Dachhimmel in Schließstellung des Schiebedachdeckels,

Fig. 11

eine Ansicht gemäß Fig. 10 in Öffnungsstellung des Schiebedachdeckels,

Fig. 12

einen Schnitt durch zwei Deckelelemente eines abgewandelten Lamellenschiebedachs in Dachschließstellung und

Fig. 13

eine Ansicht gemäß Fig. 12 in Dachöffnungsstellung.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. It shows:

Fig. 1

a perspective partially sectioned view of a front corner region of a sliding or lifting roof cover,

Fig. 2

1 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a sliding or lifting roof cover with a peripheral seal attached by an additional part,

Fig. 3

1 a view similar to FIG. 1 of a sliding or lifting roof cover with an end piece covering the cut edge of an extruded profile,

Fig. 4

the section along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5

the section along the line VV of Fig. 3,

Fig. 6

2 shows a view similar to FIG. 1 with an end piece for covering the cut edge of the extruded profile and a viewing panel molded onto the end piece,

Fig. 7

1 shows a perspective view of a lamellar sunroof cover with end piece for a lamella sunroof,

Fig. 8

2 shows a section through a slatted sliding roof with an outer sliding roof cladding in the closed position of the sliding roof cover,

Fig. 9

8 in the open position of the sunroof cover,

Fig. 10

2 shows a section through two cover elements of a slatted sliding roof with a molded roof lining in the closed position of the sliding roof cover,

Fig. 11

10 in the open position of the sunroof cover,

Fig. 12

a section through two cover elements of a modified louvered roof in the closed roof position and

Fig. 13

a view of FIG. 12 in the roof opening position.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective top view of the front corner of a sliding or sunroof cover 10, which consists of an extruded profile 12 and a peripheral rubber or plastic seal 14.

The extruded profile 12 is installed transversely to the direction of travel A. On its longitudinal edge 16, a fastening part 34 of the circulation seal 14 is held in a groove 18 of the extruded profile part 12. In the area of the cutting edge 20 of the extruded profile 12, its webs 22 are milled to a certain depth x, which corresponds to the depth of the groove 18 on the two longitudinal edges 16. As a result, the circumferential seal 14 is also held in the region of the cut edge 20 of the extruded profile 12 without a separate end piece in the form of a sealing or guide element having to be provided.

In addition to cutting out the webs 22 to the insertion depth of the fastening part 34 of the circulation seal 16, an insertion part of the seal 14 can also be punched out. Reaching behind the fastening part 34 of the circumferential seal 14 is also possible without groove-shaped shaping of the edges of the extruded profile 12. Then only the upper and lower legs 24, 26 must be pressed together at the edges 16, 20 of the extruded profile 12. Of course, only the lower leg 26 can also be bent upward, whereby an approximately trapezoidal groove is formed.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a sliding or lifting roof cover that is largely similar to FIG. 1, identical or functionally identical parts being provided with identical reference numerals.

The sliding or lifting roof cover 30 in turn consists of an extruded profile 12, the edges of which are covered all round by a circumferential seal 14. In contrast to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the longitudinal edge 16 of the extruded profile 12 does not have a groove, but only an L-shaped strip 32 which projects on one side and forms the upper wall of a groove for receiving a fastening part 34 of the circumferential seal 14. The other groove wall is covered by a circumferential Clamp profile 36 formed, which is fixed to the extruded profile 12 with a blind rivet or screw 38. The cut edge 20 of the extruded profile 12 is milled in such a way that, similar to the L-shaped strip 32 on the longitudinal edge 16, an L-shaped strip 33 remains which, like the strip 32, forms the upper part of a groove for receiving the fastening part 34 of the circumferential seal 14 forms. The underside of the strip 33 is milled L-shaped when milling out the part of the cut edge 20 of the extruded profile 12 underneath.

3 shows a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 of a sliding or lifting roof cover 40, which consists essentially of an extruded profile 42, an end piece 44 for covering the cutting edge 46 of the extruded profile 42 and a circumferential seal 48.

The end piece 44 has an at least partially complementary profile 50 to the extruded profile part 42, with which it is inserted at the cutting edge 46 of the extruded profile 42. The end piece 44 is fastened as a sealing and / or guiding element for the sliding or lifting roof cover 40 either by means of a screw as shown in FIG. 5 or by squeezing, as shown in FIG. 4. The end piece 44 consists of die-cast aluminum and has a sealing flange 52 for receiving the circumferential seal 48 and a bolt 54 as a mechanical connection, e.g. on guide slots formed in the roof opening for the sliding or lifting roof cover 40.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 4, the end piece 44 is fixed after insertion into the extruded profile part 42 in that the underside 55 of the extruded profile part 42 is perforated in the direction of the inserted end piece 44 and the deformed underside 55 engages behind a recess 56 in the end piece 44 .

FIG. 5 shows the section V-V from FIG. 3 with an alternative or additional fastening option to FIG. 4. The end piece 44 has a through-hole 58 in a profile 50 inserted into the extruded profile 42, into which a screw 60 penetrating the underside of the extruded profile 42 engages. In this way, a secure attachment of the end piece 44 to the extruded profile 42 is ensured.

FIG. 6 shows a sliding or lifting roof cover 62 in a perspective view similar to FIG. 1. Parts that are identical or functionally identical to the previous figures are provided with identical reference numerals.

The sliding or lifting roof cover 62 differs from the sliding or lifting roof cover 10 and 30 in the figures. 1 and 2 in that in the area of the cutting edge 20 on the underside of the extruded profile 12, a guide and fastening part 64 is attached, which has a downward-facing side screen 66 with a link 68 for mechanical connection to a guide device in the roof opening and a hinge part 70 to form a hinge that allows pivoting of the cover 62.

The guide and fastening part 64 is fastened to the extruded profile 12 by means of rivets 72 or screws. The part 64 can be designed together with the link 68 and the hinge part 70 for fastening and guiding the sliding or lifting roof cover as a die-cast or injection-molded part.

Fig. 7 shows a lamellar cover element 80, consisting of a louver-shaped elongated extruded profile 82, on the cut edge 84 of which end pieces 86 are placed as guide and / or sealing elements. For this purpose, the end piece 86 has a profile 88 which is complementary to the extruded profile 82 and which is inserted into the extruded profile 82. The end piece 86 can be connected to the extruded profile 82 by squeezing and latching similar to FIG. 4 or by screws corresponding to FIG. 5.

The lamellar cover element 80 is particularly suitable for slat sunroofs, such as those e.g. in the above German patent application DE-A-4 123 229 are described.

FIG. 8 shows two cover elements 90, 92 of a lamella sliding roof, each of which has an extruded profile 94, as is shown for cover element 90. For the sake of clarity, the extruded profile is not shown on the lid element 92. The extruded profile 94 of the cover elements 90 and 92 has two bores 96 for receiving end pieces as sealing and fastening elements.

The two cover elements 90 and 92 are shown in the closed position of the roof. On their outside facing away from the vehicle interior, the cover elements 90, 92 have molded-in grooves 98, which are engaged behind by fastening elements of a fabric or film layer 100 as cladding of the sunroof. This covering 100, which folds up when the sunroof is in the open position shown in FIG. 9, ensures that no moisture gets into the sunroof mechanism and the vehicle interior.

The extruded profile 94 has in the area of the front longitudinal edges 102, which are designed as abutting edges for adjacent lamellar cover elements 90, 92, an undercut 104 for receiving a bead or hollow chamber seal 106, both on the cover element 90 and in the closed position of the slat sliding roof abuts the cover element 92. On the longitudinal edge 102 of the cover elements 90, 92, a leg 108 is also formed which, together with the undercut 104, forms a groove for receiving a fastening part 107 of the seal 106. On the other longitudinal edge 110 facing away from the longitudinal edge 102, a horizontal contact surface 112 is formed which, when the roof is closed, bears against the bead-shaped seal 106 on the side opposite the undercut 104 of the adjacent cover element 92. In this way, a particularly good thermal seal is achieved with the louvre sliding roof closed.

The figures 10 and 11 show the FIGS. 8 and 9 largely similar embodiment of a slatted sliding roof, identical or functionally identical parts being provided with identical reference numerals.

In contrast to the one in FIGS. The embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 have the cover elements according to FIGS. 10 and 11 do not have an outer cladding, but rather a one-piece headliner 114 which, in the manner of a one-piece film layer, covers the entire underside of the slatted sliding roof. The headliner 114, like the lining 100 in FIGS. 8 and 9, is fastened to the lamellar cover elements 90, 92 with a tongue and groove connection 116. Here, too, it is important that the tongue and groove connections 116 are spaced at least from one abutting edge 110, so that the sky can fold in the open position of the slatted sliding roof (FIG. 11) without impairing the movement of the lamellar cover elements 90, 92 . Instead of a one-piece headliner, individual headliner elements can also be attached to each cover element 90, 92. The continuous headliner 114 offers similar to the panel 100 according to FIGS. 8 and 9 good protection of the roof mechanics against dirt.

The embodiment according to FIGS. 12 and 13 is largely similar to the embodiments of FIGS. 8 and 9 or 10 and 11. In this case, no fabric or film layer is provided, and a water channel 120 is integrally formed on the cover elements 118 in the region of the front longitudinal edge.

Claims (13)

1. A roof element (10, 30, 40, 62, 80, 90, 92, 118) for optionally closing or at least partially exposing a roof opening in a motor vehicle roof, characterised in that the roof element (10, 30, 40, 62, 80, 90, 92, 118) substantially consists of an extruded section (12, 42, 82, 94) of a light metal or a light metal alloy.
2. A roof element according to Claim 1, characterised in that the cut edges (46, 84) of the extruded section (42, 82) are covered by an end piece (44, 64, 86) which is constructed as a sealing and/or guiding element.
3. A roof element according to Claim 2, characterised in that the end piece (44, 86) has a profile (50, 88) which complements that of the extruded section (42, 82).
4. A roof element according to Claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the end piece (44, 64, 86) and the extruded section (42, 82) are connected to each other by squeezing, gluing, screwing or riveting.
5. A roof element according to one of Claims 2 to 4, characterised in that the end piece (44, 64, 86) is constructed as an injection moulding or pressure die-casting.
6. A roof element according to one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the extruded section (12, 42, 82, 94) is disposed crosswise to the direction of travel.
7. A roof element according to one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the roof element (90, 92, 118) is of segmental construction and, in a sequence of other segmental roof elements (92, 90, 118), forms a segmental sliding roof.
8. A roof element according to Claim 7, characterised in that it has at a first abutting edge (102) an undercut (104) to accommodate a gasket (106) and has on the second abutting edge (110) which is remote therefrom a bearing surface (112) adapted to bear in sealing-tight manner against the gasket (106) of an adjacent roof element (92).
9. A roof element according to Claim 7 or 8, characterised in that on its side facing the interior of the vehicle there are connecting elements (116), preferably grooves, to accommodate a vehicle headlining (114) which extends over a roof element (90, 92) or over the entire segmental roof.
10. A roof element according to Claim 9, characterised in that the connecting elements (116) are spaced apart from an abutting edge (110) of the roof element (90, 92).
11. A roof element according to one of Claims 7 to 10, characterised in that on its side remote from the interior of the vehicle it has at least one groove (98) for fixing a sliding roof cladding (100) in the form of a layer of film or fabric.
12. A roof element according to Claim 11, characterised in that the groove (98) is spaced apart from at least one abutting edge (102).
13. A roof element according to one of the preceding Claims, characterised by an integrally formed gutter (120).

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